One-piece air flow actuated sound producing device



Feb. 11,1969 s. s. NOVACO 3,425,477 ONEFPIECE AIR FLOW ACTUATED SOUNDPRODUCING DEVICE Filed July 18. 1966 Sheet of 2 /6 25 27.22 ffy-INVENTOR. as'lanlg M fz ca,

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' ONE-PIECE AIR FLOW ACTUATED SOUND PRODUCING DEVICE riled July 18, 1966Sheet 2 of 2 IN V EN T 0R.

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Amrngys United States Patent 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Novelsound producing devices for use in hollow resilient articles such assqueeze toys comprise an open-ended tubular body having a plurality ofintegral longitudinal panels disposed internally of the body and at anangle to the axis thereof. Each panel contains at least one longitudinalslot and an integral harmonic reed disposed to vibrate with respect tosaid slot. At least two of the integral harmonic reeds are disposed withtheir fixed and free ends in reverse relationship to the fixed and freeends of another of the reeds, whereby at least one reed is caused tovibrate by air flowing in either direction through the body, thusproducing a sound on either squeezing the toy or permitting it to expandto its normal state after releasing the squeezing pressure.

This invention relates to an air flow actuated sound device of the typeadapted to be installed in hollow resilient or compressible toys orother articles, being so connected therewith that, when the toy orarticle is squeezed, air will be caused to flow outwardly through thedevice with sound producing effect, and/or, if desired, when the toy orarticle expands after squeezing pressure is released, air will be causedto flow inwardly through the device with sound producing effect.

Sound producing devices, frequently referred to as noise makers, for usein hollow resilient toys or other articles, as heretofore known, havecomprised tubular bodies having separate metallic flapper type reedsinserted therein, the assembly of the latter with the sup porting bodybeing usually performed by hand, thus involving relatively high cost inlabor and time. Such separate flapper type reeds also are subject torisk of detachment from the supporting body in which they are inserted.If this occurs, the device becomes inoperative, and the detached reedbecomes a possible cause of injury to a child playing with the toyequipped with the device. Furthermore, such flapper type reeds producebut raucous sound rather than a musical tone.

As distinguished from the above described heretofore known device havinga separate flapper type reed assembled therewith, it is an object ofthis invention to provide a novel sound producing device (hereinaftersometimes referred to as a whistle rather than a noise-maker) which canbe molded, as a complete integral structure, from suitable syntheticplastic material, preferably a thermoplastic synthetic resin such aspolystyrene, and capable of being shaped by an injection moldingprocess, including harmonic reed or reeds integral therewith, thusproviding a complete one-piece structure, having no parts riskingaccidental separation or detachment therefrom, and thereby providing astructure which, in production thereof, requires no expenditure of highband labor cost or time, and which, in use, produces pleasing musicalsound or tone, or a plurality of the latter if desired.

Another and more specific object of this invention is to provide aone-piece sound producing device or whistle, of the general characterabove set forth, comprising a substantially tubular body within andacross the bore of which is positioned an integral transverse portionstruc- 3,426,477 Patented Feb. 11, 1969 ture having lengthwise extendingpanels obliquely inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of thetubular body, said panels converging toward an end, preferably the innerend of the body bore; one or both of said partitioning panels beingprovided with one or more harmonic reeds formed integrally therewith, tooverlie a slot or opening therein which is or are coextensive and inregister with the reed or reeds; the reed or reeds being consequentlylocated entirely within the bore interior of the body, and thusprotected against injury when mounting the device or whistle inoperative connection with a toy or other article which it is to serve.

The above and other objects will be understood from a reading of thefollowing description of illustrative embodiments of this invention inconnection with the accompanying drawings thereof; in which drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a sound producing device or whistleaccording to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan elevational view of the same;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof, taken on line 3-3 inFIG. 1, and drawn on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 4 is an outer end elevational view as seen from the left of FIG. 3;and

FIG. 5 is an inner end elevational view as seen from the right of FIG.3.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view, similar to that of FIG. 3, butdrawn on reduced scale, the same illustrating means for modifying thepitch of sounds produced by the reed or reeds of the device or whistle.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view, similar to that of FIG. 1, butshowing a modified arrangement of harmonic reeds therein; and FIG. 8 isa similar view showing another modified arrangement of harmonic reeds.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view, in part longitudinal section, showinga modified structure wherein a reed or reeds are integrally formed inconnection with exterior wall or walls of the one-piece whistle.

Like characters of reference are employed in the above described views,to indicate corresponding parts of the one-piece device or whistle ofthis invention.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 to 5 inclusive, wherein is shown a preferredform of the one-piece sound producing device or whistle according tothis invention, the reference character 10 indicates the complete devicewhich is in the form of an elongated tubular body, preferably ofcircular cross-sectional shape, but which can be of any other desiredcross-sectional shape, said body defining an axial bore 11. The outerend portion of the body 10 is formed to provide means for attaching thesame to a hollow compressible toy or other article into which it can beinserted through an opening in the wall 12 thereof, shown by brokenlines in FIG. 1. This attaching means comprises an external annularkeeper flange 13, and an external frustoconical section 14, the outerend of the latter providing a shoulder 15 which is spaced inwardly orrearwardly from said keeper flange 13, thus forming an intermediateannular groove 16 to receive the marginal peripheral portions of theopening in wall 12, through which the body 10 is inserted to extend intothe interior of the toy or other article to be served thereby. Inwardlyor rearwardly of the frustoconical section 14, the body 10 is formed toprovide an inner end section or barrel 17. The outer end of the bore 11defines an external mouth 18 through which whistle actuating air canflow into and out of the interior of the whistle; and the inner end ofthe bore 11 defines an internal mouth 19 through which air can likewiseflow into and out of the interior of the whistle.

Formed within the interior of the barrel section 17 of the body 10, asan integral part thereof, is a transverse elongated partition structure20. This partition structure includes at least one wall or panelangularly extending relative to the longitudinal axis of the body bore11 and to the surrounding wall of said barrel section. In integralconnected with the panel is formed a harmonic reed that overlies a slotor opening in the panel that is coextensive therewith.

In a preferred form thereof, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the partitionstructure comprises laterally opposed panels 21 and 22 which arerespectively obliquely inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of thebody bore 11, and angular to the adjacent wall of the barrel section 17.Integrally formed in connection with one panel, e.g. panel 21, is aharmonic reed 23 having its free end directed rearwardly toward theinternal mouth 19 of the body 10, and thus being responsive, with soundproducing effect, to air caused to flow outwardly through the whistle;said reed 23 overlying a coextensive slot or opening 24 in said panel21. Integrally formed in connection with the opposite panel, e.g. panel22, is another harmonic reed 25 having its free end directed forwardlytoward the external mouth 18 of the body and thus being responsive, withsound producing effect to air caused to flow inwardly through thewhistle; said reed 25 overlies a coextensive slot or opening 26 in saidpanel 22.

It will be understood that if the whistle is desired to respond tooutflowing air only, then the reed responsive to inflowing air may beomitted, and vice versa.

It will be noted that, due to the oblique inclination of the panels ofthe partition structure relative to the axis of the body bore 11 and tothe surrounding walls of the barrel section 17 of the body, the reedscarried by the partition panels are disposed angularly to the path ofair flow through the whistle. As a consequence of this it will beobvious that, since the flowing air contacts the reed or reeds at anangle, less air pressure is required to vibrate the reed or reeds withdesired sound producing effect. Furthermore, due to the angular relationof the panels and their reeds relative to the surrounding walls of thebarrel section 17, a venturi eifect upon the flowing air results,whereby the reed or reeds easily respond to minimum air flow pressure,or produce louder sound under a given air flow pressure.

It will also be obvious that, in the described preferred structure ofthe whistle, the reed or reeds are entirely enclosed within the interiorof the barrel section 17, and therefore are not subject to injuriouscontact with the walls or other parts of the toy or other article, wheninserting the whistle into the latter in operative assembly therewith.

It is desirable, but not essential, to provide the wall of the barrelsection 17 with longitudinal slots 27 of suitable width, enteringtherethrough from the mouth 19 thereof, and located in opposite sidesthereof in substantial alignment with the reeds of the partitionstructure 20. These slots 27 divide the wall of the barrel section intoopposed, somewhat springy sections having rounded ends 28. Thesesections can yield one toward the other in event the hole in the wall ofthe toy or other article is of diameter smaller than that of the barrelsection 17, thus facilitating inserting entrance of the Whistle throughthe toy or other article wall. This is of advantage even with respect towhistles which are produced from relatively rigid plastic material. Itmay, in this connection, be pointed out that, although a substantiallyrigid plastic formation is preferred, the whistle can be formed fromplastic material modified to some degree by a suitable flexibilizingagent.

Another advantage of the provision of the slots 27, in the barrelsection 17 adjacent to the reeds, is that air passages additional to theend mouths 18 and 19 are afforded. As a consequence of this, the reedsare less likely to choke under a too forceful blast of air, since theair can more easily discharge through the additional air passages, thusavoiding excess air pressure reed choking effect.

In the above described preferred construction of the one-piece whistle,the harmonic reeds in the panels of the partition structure 20 aredisposed side by side. Other relative arrangement and location of thereeds can be provided. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the two reeds 29may be located, in connection with a selected panel, in longitudinallyspaced apart relation, to extend in a desired direction, or respectivelyin opposite directions. In another arrangement, as shown in FIG. 8, aseries of reeds may be located in a selected panel in longitudinallyspaced apart relation to extend in desired direction, or with one ormore thereof in reversed direction. For example, as shown, reeds 30 aredirected to respond to outfiowing air, while reed 31 is directed torespond to inflowing air.

In the one-piece Whistle of this invention, the provision of integralharmonic type reeds is of considerable advantage since the same can bedesigned so that sounds thereof can be produced and maintained atdesired pitch. In this connection, it is pointed out that the pitch of aharmonic reed can be readily adjusted as desired. The pitch of aharmonic reed depends on its length and its flex characteristics. AddingWeight to the free end of a reed, as by adhering thereto a dab or spotof plastic or other material, has the effect of lengthening the reed andthus lowering its pitch. On the other hand, by applying a dab or spot ofplastic or other material adjacent to the fixed end of a reed, stiffensthe fixed end portion thereof, and has the effect of shortening theflexible part of the reed, thus raising its pitch. Such adjustments areillustratively shown in FIG. 6, wherein the reed 23 is, in effect,lengthened and its pitch lowered by application to its free end of a dabor spot 32 of plastic or other material, and wherein the reed 25 is, ineffect, shortened and its pitch raised by application to its fixed endportion of a dob or spot 33 of plastic or other material.

Although the above described preferred construction of the one-pieceWhistle according to this invention is the most desirable, since thereed or reeds are disposed entirely within the interior of the barrelsection 17, and are thus best protected against injury when assemblingthe whisle with a toy or other article to be served thereby, it isnevertheless also possible to produce a one-piece whistle wherein thereed or reeds form integral part or parts of the wall of the barrelsection 17. A whistle so modified is shown in FIG. 9, wherein anexternal reed 23 and its cooperative slot 24' is formed in connectionwith one part of the wall of the barrel section 17, so as to beresponsive to outfiowing air passing through the whistle, and wherein aninternal reed 25' and its cooperative slot 26- is formed in connectionwith another part of the wall of the barrel section 17, so as to beresponsive to inflowing air passing through the whistle. The free end ofthe external reed 23 is protected against injury by providing, on thebarrel section wall adjacent to and opposing the free end of this reed,an external boss 34. The partition structure 20, in this case, isprovided with air passage openings 35. It will be understood that one orthe other of said reeds 23 or 25' may be omitted, if a single reedwhistle is desired.

Various modifications with respect to the above described embodiments ofmy invention, as well as in details thereof, are possible within thescope of the herefollowing claims, and consequently the constructionshown in the accompanying drawings are to be deemed illustrative ratherthan limiting.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. In a one-piece sound-producing device adapted to be actuated by airflow produced by compression and expansion of a hollow resilient articleand having an open-ended tubular body containing a plurality of harmonicreeds integral with said body, the improvement which comprises: aplurality of panels disposed in and integral with said body, said panelsextending longitudinally of said body and being disposed at an acuteangle to the inner walls and longitudinal axis thereof,

whereby at least two of said panels converge at one end thereof each ofsaid panels having a longitudinal slot therein, each of said harmonicreeds being formed integrally with one of said panels and being disposedin alignment with and substantially coextensive with one of said slots,each of said harmonic reeds having one end thereof fixed integrally toone of said panels and one end free to vibrate under the influence ofair flowing through said tubular body, at least one of said harmonicreeds having its fixed and free ends disposed in reverse relation withrespect to the fixed and free ends respectively of one of said otherharmonic reeds, whereby at least one of said reeds vibrates in responseto air flowing through said tubular body in one direction, and at leastone other harmonic reed vibrates in response to air flowing through saidbody in the other direction.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said panelscontains at least two slots each having an integral harmonic reedassociated therewith.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the slots are in longitudinalalignment.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the harmonicreeds associated with the longitudinally aligned slots in at least oneof said panels has its fixed and free ends disposed in reverse relationwi' respect to the fixed and free ends of another reed said panel.

5. A device according to claim 1 having at least 01 slot in the tubularbody disposed in the plane of at lea one of the slots in one of saidpanels, whereby to perrr passage of air through both of said slots, toreduce tl possibility of choking of said noise making device l excessair.

6. A device according to claim 1, having at least 01 additional harmonicreed integral with said body and least one slot in the wall of saidbody, said addition harmonic reed being disposed in alignment with saida ditional slot and being substantially coextensive ther with.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1952 Hoeflich 461l 1/1963 Craft46-11

